Import Fees on one item, but not another?

[heatedshade]

Why am I seeing import fees to ship to Canada on one item, yet not another? Both items are being shipped from the U.S.

[ypdc_dennis]

Price matters, basic exemption is $20 for mail imports into Canada.

[heatedshade]

Okay...the item WITH import charges is $169.99, the one WITHOUT import charges is $69.99. 

Is this what you mean?

[momcqueen]

The Global Shipping Program is involved; it collects your import fees upfront. 

[heatedshade]

"No additional import charges at delivery!"

Great! So this means if I have to go out of my way to pick up the item at UPS (ugh), I won't be charged AGAIN?

[ypdc_dennis]

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wrote:

Okay...the item WITH import charges is $169.99, the one WITHOUT import charges is $69.99. 

Is this what you mean?

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More detail is always good.

It sounds like one is using the Global Shipping Program and the other is not. The GSP collects any fees upfront and provides tracked delivery.  The non-GSP will be which ever way the seller ships it and you may or may not get hit by duty, taxes and a processing fee when it crosses the border.

...

Generally the seller picks GSP as a delivery method, but if careless eBay.COM will add GSP to a seller's listing.

...

If GSP, there should be no additional fees regardless who delivers UPS/FedEX/Canada Post/etc...

[heatedshade]

Ahh.. I see.. 

Yes, the first item has GSP listed and has a import fee.

The second item has neither.

Is there any system to determine if an item is going to have import fees (other than GSP)

Ive only had to pay upfront import fees TWICE in my life, one on a pair of jeans from GUESS.COM, and another one a handheld videogame system back in 2003 (from eBay)

[momcqueen]

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wrote:

"No additional import charges at delivery!"

Great! So this means if I have to go out of my way to pick up the item at UPS (ugh), I won't be charged AGAIN?

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No. If UPS was used to ship this to you, you'd be charged hefty brokerage fees at the for PLUS your import fees prior to the item being released to you. The Global Shipping Program is run by ebay though Pitney Bowes and it's one part postage and one part brokering. You pay both upfront and the item gets delivered to you without additional charges. Remember, the de minimus (duty-free/tax-free limit) for import by mail into Canada for most items is $20 CAD. 

[momcqueen]

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wrote:

Ahh.. I see.. Is there any system to determine if an item is going to have import fees (other than GSP)....

Yes, expect to pay duty and/or sales tax on every item valued at $20 CAD (and up) that is imported by mail order into Canada, and be grateful if you don't have it asked of you. It is, after all, the law. If packages slip through without additional fees being assessed, consider yourself lucky... and not the other way around. 

[femmefan1946]

So this means if I have to go out of my way to pick up the item at UPS (ugh), I won't be charged AGAIN?

No.

If your seller is using GSP, the usual carrier within Canada is Canada Post. But even if GSP/Pitney Bowes chooses another carrier (they sometimes use CanPar) you will not be charged anything more because you paid those import fees before the seller was even told to ship.

If your seller doesn't use GSP, and you are ordinarily buying items over $50-$100USD, it is worthwhile BEFORE buying , asking if the seller will use USPS First Class International Parcel shipping.
The advantages are that if the Canada Post carrier misses you, the parcel will be left at the nearest postal outlet. These are usually closer than the UPS terminal out by the airport.

And Canada Post has a service fee of $9.95 compared to the UPS fee of $25 or more.

Here for your future seller's information is the USPS webpage. He has to click on Shape and Size and then scroll down down down to find the cheapest rate.

But the service does include Confirmation of Delivery, which your seller undoubtedly wants.

https://postcalc.usps.com/?country=10440